Politicians commence process of pressuring other owners on Washington name

Posted by Mike Florio on June 19, 2014, 4:56 PM EST

Getty Images

To date, the political aspect of the challenge to the name of the Washington NFL franchise has focused on applying pressure to owner Daniel Snyder specifically and the rest of the NFL generally.

Now, an effort apparently has begun to pressure individual owners not named Daniel Snyder.

Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) has sent a letter to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf urging him “to not remain silent on this matter any longer.”

“NFL franchises split the sales of their licensed merchandise equally,” McCollum writes. “As you well know, when a shirt, cap, or jersey bearing the Washington team name is sold, the Minnesota Vikings share in the profit from that sale. After yesterday’s decision, NFL owners must now ask themselves if they want to continue to profit from a name so hurtful to our Native American brothers and sisters that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office deemed it ineligible for federal protection. By taking a stand to change the mascot, you can send a very clear message to Native Americans and all Americans that your organization no longer wishes to benefit from the commercialization of that hateful slur.”

Assuming that McCollum’s contention regarding shared merchandising revenue is accurate (we’ll ask the league whether it is), she has a decent point. If all owners profit from the use of the name, all owners are complicit in its ongoing use in the face of mounting public, political, and legal opposition.

Other owners primarily if not exclusively have remained silent on the issue, neither expressing support or condemnation. On the former, their silence is arguably deafening. Still, the needle won’t move until one or more of them choose to speak out.

The chances of that happening are roughly equivalent to the chances of Snyder changing the name without the NFL and other owners privately nudging him to do so.

Politicians never miss an opportunity to jump on the public opinion bandwagon. McCollum has been in congress for 13 years, did she just learn the team in town’s name now?

bassplucker says:Jun 19, 2014 5:07 PM

Wow, I’m so glad our reps in D.C. don’t have any more pressing matters than this to spend their time on than this. Tornados ripping the middle of the country apart, rampant food and energy inflation, but hey, they’re right on top of that NFL team mascot thing.

Momentum continues to build. All its going to take at this point is one major sponsor to pull out from supporting the Washington team. As soon as that first domino falls, it will go quickly. At this rate, I would call it a 50/50 chance that the first sponsor pulls out before Week 1. #WashingtonWarriors

If the politicians in Congress spent 1/50th as much time dealing with the many issues and problems that desperately need bi-partisan solving in this country as they did worrying about the PC-ness of a football team’s name, it’s conceivable possible that they’d have better than the current 7% approval rating from the people they allegedly represent.

So for now we just all understand that the other owners approve of the name. There’s also no other injustices of any kind presently happening and you can be sure of that otherwise these owners would spot it and speak up of course. If they don’t then hopefully Scott Bakula will just go back in time and put things right which once were wrong.

It pains me to admit I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’ve got a Buc’s hoody I’ve only worn once and 7 or 8 caps. What do I do with them now? As much as the racial epithet aggrieves me, I could no more give up football than I could breathing. I suppose the only thing to do is redouble my efforts in support of the name change. HAIL TO THE NAME CHANGE!!

Politicians are now effectively dividing the NFL. Since the PC Politicians all seem to be mostly from one political party, it’s time to decide if the NFL is going to be for leftist a only. Seriously, this has potential for turning off a significant percentage of the fan base if it’s just going to be tied in with the DNC. And remember folks, the POTUS and other Democrats haven’t had many good things to say about the NFL anyway. Beginning of the end if this really happens… Which is probably the ultimate goal here.

dawnkeebals says:Jun 19, 2014 6:14 PM

Red Mesa high school in Arizona has over 95% native American enrollment. Can anyone guess their mascot?? It’s Redskins! What is their logo? An Indian head, very similar to Washington’s. How hypocritical can these groups get? Stick to your guns Dan!

LEAVE THE NAME ALONE IT IS PART OF HISTORY OF THE NFL!!! Tell the lying politicians to keep their nose out of it & maybe that band wagon will help them get votes…. the NFL is the MOST watched sport in the world!!!

cuda1234 says:Jun 19, 2014 6:30 PM

If the trademark is undone, can’t all 32 owners print their own resdkins gear and not share the profits with anyone? All this does is allow more people to get into the Redskins business and make the name even more widely used. As usual, congress gets it wrong.

kokomike says:Jun 19, 2014 6:38 PM

As a Redskins’ season ticket holder for 36 years, I have never once uttered the word “Redskins” as a slur. Nor has anyone I know. Hail to the Redskins is a slogan of respect and honor. The logo is 100% honorable. I can understand that the word “Redskins” is being co-oped for political purposes, and many will champion the cause to change the name, regardless of historical truths. That is politics, and Washington is the most political city in the world. If Snyder ultimately decides to change the name, I suggest that no name will be equal to “Redskins” in terms of honor and respect as it has been used by Washington Redskins fans for my entire life.

I don’t have a stron gopinion either way, but can somebody please show me where at with 100% certainty that the term “Redskin” was ever actually a completely negative term. My best friend is native american, and I grew up next to an indian reservation , and none of the locals seem to care or find it offensive. It seems as if white people, and one publicity hungry native lawyer are the only ones that take issue with the term. If we’re going to do away with it that’s completely fine, but can we also get rid of the term “Caucasian” and “African American” while we’re at it

ocgunslinger says:Jun 19, 2014 6:46 PM

I’m going to buy a lot of Redskin gear before the PC police eventually ruin everything they touch.

Why not put this on the next national ballot? Let the country decide one way or the other. Never happen because we all know the name change wouldn’t take place.

Probably not this season, but by next season y’all be supporting a different Washington team.

And couldn’t be soon enough.

ufourya says:Jun 19, 2014 7:59 PM

The board’s ruling is illogical and unsupported by any significant evidence. Last time this was attempted (1999), a federal judge overturned the ruling (2003) for these very reasons.

It is illogical that a team would give itself with a disparaging name. Duh.

In addition, the last poll taken indicates that support for the name is overwhelming, and there is zero evidence that the name is intended to disparage – quite the contrary.

The sad thing is that we are becoming more used to the illogical emanating from our ‘leaders’ and the lapdog media. We are also daily being inundated with propaganda supporting freedom-killing schemes like this present non-issue.

For the love of freedom and common sense, DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME. Raise a middle finger to all the utopian masterminds who think they have the moral high ground based on their own inflated opinions of themselves.

I am not a Redskins fan by any means. But I hope Snyder sticks to his guns.

Doesn’t Congress have more important matters, like terrorism, the economy, letting Obama break any law he decides he wants too? And don’t forget about their fellow congress members that are breaking the law, such as the one in California charged with selling weapons to China?

I’m a Steelers fan, but I’m going to buy a redskins hat tomorrow. And I’ll wear that hat proudly every day! All the PC people in this country can kiss it!

hsteacher says:Jun 19, 2014 10:21 PM

Let me get this straight we have whites, blacks, yellows, browns, and reds? Does that cover it all?

cags777 says:Jun 19, 2014 10:32 PM

As much as I don’t like the Redskins name, I think it’s worse making Dan Snyder into a political martyr. Besides, aren’t there more important things to do in Congress?

rosstuckershair says:Jun 19, 2014 11:26 PM

It’s really the principal of the whole controversy that bothers me. Progressive thinking is beginning to invade the NFL Now, several newspapers in KC. Seattle, Buffalo and Philadelphia will not longer call them the Redskins. Although a appeal will take a long time to complete and win for the Redskins, the absurdity is mind boggling…

Lord in 20 years, we will be watching the NFL playing the Unity Bowl where there are no winners, everyone gets the same trophy and Dear Leader will deliver a speech at halftime….

virginiaviking says:Jun 20, 2014 12:16 AM

I guess they can’t change their name to the Washington Hogs either , because the fat people will get offended. What ever happened to this being a free country. I mean I’m not a bigot by any means . I just believe if you spend millions to buy a company you should be able decide what the name is. Also with the shambles that congress has put this country in , i believe they have more concerning issues to deal with than a name of a sports franchise.

The simple fact of the matter is this. Because you don’t find it offensive is absolutely inconsequential, especially if you aren’t Native American. As a Native American I didn’t have a particularly negative view of the Washington franchise until I started to see all the push back. It’s petty, pointless, infantile, redundant and not least of all racially motivated with latent bigotry. And that’s as plain as the nose on your face.

NoRespect says:Jun 20, 2014 7:50 AM

And by “Now, an effort apparently has begun to pressure individual owners not named Daniel Snyder.” you mean 1 Senator who is not well regarded? Look at the replies to her tweet on the subject. Only 9, and each one against her. Not a single reply in her favor.

The Democratic party has become the thought police for the nation. George Orwell just turned over in his grave. Once again a feeble intellect deceives its holder into a belief in their own superiority.

Ah, isn’t it a bit late to be worried about offending the people we stole this country from? I’d bet there are more non-Native American’s that are “offended” by the name than actual Native Americans. Sorry if I offended anyone.